The use of three-dimensional (3-D) technology in upper extremity surgery has the potential to revolutionize the way that hand and upper limb procedures are planned and performed. 3-D technology can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions, allowing virtual preoperative planning and surgical templating. 3-D printing can allow the production of patient-specific jigs, instruments and implants, allowing surgeons to plan and perform complex procedures with greater precision and accuracy. Previously, cost has been a barrier to the use of 3-D technology, which is now falling rapidly. This review article will discuss the current status of 3-D technology and printing, including its applications, ethics and challenges in hand and upper limb surgery. We have provided case examples to outline how clinicians can incorporate 3-D technology in their clinical practice for congenital deformities, management of acute fracture and malunion and arthroplasty.
BauerDEZimmermannSAichmairA, et al.
Conventional versus computer-assisted corrective osteotomy of the forearm: a retrospective analysis of 56 consecutive cases. J Hand Surg Am. 2017,
42: 447–55.
2.
BeltramiG.Custom 3-D-printed finger proximal phalanx as salvage of limb function after aggressive recurrence of giant cell tumour. BMJ Case Reports. 2018, 2018: bcr-2018–226007.
3.
BizzottoNSandriARegisDRomaniDTamiIMagnanB.Three-dimensional printing of bone fractures: a new tangible realistic way for preoperative planning and education.Surg Innov. 2015,
22: 548–51.
4.
BuijzeGALeongNLStockmansF, et al.
Three-dimensional compared with two-dimensional preoperative planning of corrective osteotomy for extra-articular distal radial malunion: a multicenter randomized controlled trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018,
100: 1191–202.
5.
CaitiGDobbeJGGStrackeeSDStrijkersGJStreekstraGJ.Computer-assisted techniques in corrective distal radius osteotomy procedures. IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering. 2020,
13: 233–47.
6.
CartiauxOPaulLFrancqBGBanseXDocquierPL.Improved accuracy with 3-D planning and patient-specific instruments during simulated pelvic bone tumor surgery. Annals Biomed Engineer. 2014,
42: 205–13.
7.
CatenaNArrigoniCOrigoC.Use of a 3-D model for the correction of a complex Madelung deformity in a teenager: a case report. JBJS Case Connector. 2022,
12: 21.
8.
ChamoDMsallemBSharmaNAghlmandiSKunzCThieringerFM.Accuracy assessment of molded, patient-specific polymethylmethacrylate craniofacial implants compared to their 3-D printed originals. J Clin Med. 2020,
9: 832.
9.
ChanP-KFangCFangELeungMYanC-HChiuK-Y.Three-dimensional printing and computer navigation for correction of multiple deformities in osteogenesis imperfecta: a case report. JBJS Case Connector. 2021,
11: 1–5.
10.
ChenCCaiLZhengWWangJGuoXChenH.The efficacy of using 3-D printing models in the treatment of fractures: a randomised clinical trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2019,
20: 65.
11.
FarrellDAMillerTJChambersJRJosephVAMcClellanWT.Three-dimensionally–printed hand surgical simulator for resident training. Plas Reconstr Surg. 2020,
148: 315e.
12.
HaririAFaccaSDi MarcoALiverneauxP.Massive wrist prosthesis for giant cell tumour of the distal radius: a case report with a 3-year follow-up. Ortho Trauma: Surg Res. 2013,
99: 635–8.
13.
JamesMA.Insufficient post hoc statistical power: a potential pitfall of a well-designed randomized controlled surgical trial: COMMENTARY on an article by Geert A. Buijze et al.: “Three-dimensional compared with two-dimensional preoperative planning of corrective osteotomy for extra-articular distal radial malunion. A multicenter randomized controlled trial”. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2018,
100: e98.
14.
KellerMGuebeliAThieringerFHonigmannP.Overview of in-hospital 3-D printing and practical applications in hand surgery. BioMed Research International. 2021,
2021: 4650245.
15.
KongLYangGYuJ, et al.
Surgical treatment of intra-articular distal radius fractures with the assistance of three-dimensional printing technique. Medicine (Balt). 2020,
99: e19259-e.
16.
LeongNLBuijzeGAFuECStockmansFJupiterJB.Computer-assisted versus non-computer-assisted preoperative planning of corrective osteotomy for extra-articular distal radius malunions: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. 2010,
11: 282.
17.
MaZ-jLiuZ-fShiQ-s, et al.
Varisized 3-D-printed lunate for Kienböck's disease in different stages: preliminary results. Ortho Surg. 2020,
12: 792–801.
18.
Marcano-FernandezFBerenguerAFollat-GomaFCorderch-NavarroSCamara-CabreraJSanchez-FloR.A customized percutaneous three-dimensional-printed guide for scaphoid fixation versus a freehand technique: a comparative study. J Hand Surg Eur. 2021,
46: 1081–7.
19.
Meyer-SzaryJLuisMSMikulskiS, et al.
The role of 3-D printing in planning complex medical procedures and training of medical professionals-cross-sectional multispecialty review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022,
19: 3331.
20.
ParkJWKangHGLimKMParkDWKimJHKimHS.Bone tumor resection guide using three-dimensional printing for limb salvage surgery. J Surg Oncol. 2018,
118: 898–905.
21.
PrsicABoyajianMKSnappWKCrozierJWooAS.A 3-dimensional-printed hand model for home-based acquisition of fracture fixation skills without fluoroscopy. J Surg Educ. 2020,
77: 1341–4.
22.
Raeker-JordanEMartinezMShimadaK.3-D printing of customizable phantoms to replace cadaveric models in upper extremity surgical residency training. Materials, 2022,
15: 694
23.
RosselloMI.A case of total scaphoid titanium custom-made 3-D-printed prostheses with one-year follow-up. Case Reports Plast Surg Hand Surg. 2020,
8: 5.
24.
RosselloMI.Short-term findings of a custom-made 3-D-printed titanium partial scaphoid prosthesis and scapholunate interosseous ligament reconstruction. BMJ Case Reports. 2021,
14: e241090.
25.
SamailaEMNegriSZardiniA, et al.
Value of three-dimensional printing of fractures in orthopaedic trauma surgery. J Int Med Res. 2020,
48: 1–9
26.
SandowM.The why, what, how and where of 3-D imaging. J Hand Surg Eur. 2014,
39: 343–5.
27.
ShuangFHuWShaoYLiHZouH.Treatment of Intercondylar Humeral Fractures With 3D-Printed Osteosynthesis Plates. Medicine. 2016,
95: 1–16.
28.
SkelleyNWSmithMJMaRCookJL.Three-dimensional printing technology in orthopaedics. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2019,
27: 918–25.
29.
TotokiYYoshiiYKusakabeTAkitaKIshiiT.Screw length optimization of a volar locking plate using three dimensional preoperative planning in distal radius fractures. J Hand Surg Asia-Pac. 2018,
23: 520–7.
30.
VaishyaRPatralekhMKVaishAAgarwalAKVijayV.Publication trends and knowledge mapping in 3-D printing in orthopaedics. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2018,
9: 194–201.
31.
WangYMinLLuM, et al.
The functional outcomes and complications of different reconstruction methods for giant cell tumor of the distal radius: comparison of osteoarticular allograft and three-dimensional-printed prosthesis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord. 2020,
21: 69.
32.
WixtedCMPetersonJRKadakiaRJAdamsSB.Three-dimensional printing in orthopaedic surgery: current applications and future developments. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2021,
5: e20.00230.
33.
WongRMYWongPYLiuC, et al.
3-D printing in orthopaedic surgery: a scoping review of randomized controlled trials. Bone Joint Res. 2021,
10: 807–19.
34.
XiaoMZhangMLeiM, et al.
Application of ultra-low-dose CT in 3-D printing of distal radial fractures. Euro J Radiol. 2021,
135: 109488.
35.
XieLChenCZhangYZhengWChenHCaiL.Three-dimensional printing assisted ORIF versus conventional ORIF for tibial plateau fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Intern J Surg. 2018,
57: 35–44.
36.
XuLQinHChengZ, et al.
3-D-printed personalised prostheses for bone defect repair and reconstruction following resection of metacarpal giant cell tumours. Annals Transl Med. 2021,
9: 1421.
37.
YinHWFengJTYuBFShenYDGuYDXuWD.3-D printing-assisted percutaneous fixation makes the surgery for scaphoid nonunion more accurate and less invasive. J Orthop Translat. 2020,
24: 138–43.
38.
YoshiiYOgawaTShigiAOkaKMuraseTIshiiT.Three-dimensional evaluations of preoperative planning reproducibility for the osteosynthesis of distal radius fractures. J Orthop Surg Res. 2021,
16: 131.
39.
YoshiiYTeramuraSOyamaKOgawaTHaraYIshiiT.Development of three-dimensional preoperative planning system for the osteosynthesis of distal humerus fractures. Biomed Eng Online. 2020,
19: 56.
40.
YoshiiYTotokiYSashidaSSakaiSIshiiT.Utility of an image fusion system for 3-D preoperative planning and fluoroscopy in the osteosynthesis of distal radius fractures. J Orthop Surg Res. 2019a,
14: 342.
41.
YoshiiYTotokiYTungW-lAkitaKIshiiT.A comparison of radiographic outcomes between 3-D preoperative planning and conventional planning in the osteosynthesis of distal radius fractures. J Hand Surg Asia-Pac. 2019,
24: 303–10.
42.
ZhangDBauerASBlazarPEarpBE.Three-dimensional printing in hand surgery. J Hand Surg Am. 2021,
46: 1016–22.
43.
ZhengWSuJCaiL, et al.
Application of 3-D-printing technology in the treatment of humeral intercondylar fractures. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2018,
104: 83–8.
44.
ZhouLFanMHansenCJohnsonCRWeiskopfD.A review of three-dimensional medical image visualization. Health Data Science. 2022,
2022: 9840519.
